Week 8: Caribbean Days

Another week, another festival!

This weekend (Saturday, July 23, and Sunday, July 24) join us at Town Centre Park in Coquitlam for the annual Caribbean Days Festival, put on every year by the Trinidad & Tobago Cultural Society of BC.

After a 2 year hiatus, the festival has officially relocated from its original venue in North Vancouver. As Caribbean Days comes to the Tri-Cities, let’s take a closer look at what makes Caribbean food so uniquely delicious.

Fresh, Flavourful, Fusion

Talk about a “mixing pot” - Caribbean cuisine is a uniquely blended fusion of African, Creole, Cajun, Indigenous Peoples of North America, European, Latin American, South Asian, Middle Eastern and Chinese influences.

As these different cultures visited, and colonized, the Caribbean national islands, their distinctive styles blended together with those indigenous to the area. As a result, Caribbean food become the robust cuisine it is today.

Flavours

Common ingredients used on most Caribbean islands are plantains, beans, rice, chickpeas, yuca, peppers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, coconut and cilantro, as well as locally available meat like beef, poultry, pork and of course, fish.

Sofrito, a herb and oil based marinade, is a well-used seasoning unique to the Caribbean. It is often made with garlic, onions, celery, green onions, mint, chives, marjoram, rosemary, tarragon, thyme and cilantro. Sofrito is used in a variety of dishes, such as stews, curries and roasted meats.

Distinct and Delicious

Before we make too many generalizations though, it is important to note that every national island in the Caribbean boasts it’s own distinct cooking styles, flavours and dishes.

While some dishes can be found throughout the islands, such as Tamarind Balls, Creole Bread, Black Cake, Pepper Pot Stew, Spiced Plantains and Conch Fritters, many Countries boast their own unique menus.

Bahamas

• Conch Ceviche - finely-chopped conch (a type of local sea snail) tossed in lime juice, salt, and orange juice and seasoned with chopped onions, tomatoes, and peppers

Barbados

• Flying Fish And Cou-Cou - Fried flying fish on a bed of Cou-Cou (ground okra and cornmeal)

Dominican Republic

• La Bandera (National Dish) - This dish consists of a bed of rice topped with seasoned kidney beans, sliced tomatoes, and spiced meat (often chicken and pork) and it arranged to resemble none other than the Dominican Republic national flag!

• Chapea (Meat free) - Vegetable stew made with rice, onions, carrots, cabbage, crushed tomatoes, butternut squash, and pinto beans.

Haiti

• Tchaka - A hearty stew made with corn, red beans, and pig feet and seasoned with orange juice and bay leaves.

Jamaica

• Gizzada - Fresh coconut tarts that are created with a buttery shortbread crust and filled with finely chopped coconut, brown sugar, and cinnamon and often flavoured with vanilla or nutmeg.

• Jerk Chicken - Arguably the most well-known Jamaican dish, jerk chicken is a type of grilled chicken that is marinated in a thick mixture of spices, including onions, peppers, cloves, and chiles and served with rice or a side of peas.

• Jamaican Callaloo (Vegetarian) - Similar to collared greens, this dish is made by adding scotch bonnet peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes and fresh thyme to a hot skillet for about 10 minutes. Easy and delicious!

Visit Morgan’s Harbour in Port Coquitlam to try some authentic Jamaican Patties!

Montserrat

• Goat Water (also called Mannish Water) - Heavily influenced by Montserrat’s Irish root, this dish is a flavourful mutton stew featuring onions, carrots, and finely chopped peppers.

Puerto Rico

• Mofongo - mashed, fried green plantains seasoned with garlic and combined with fried pork skin. This dish is usually served over a bed of shrimp or with a bowl of fish broth.

Trinidad and Tobago

• Baigan Choka - Roasted Eggplant flavored with garlic, onion, and butter and often served with a cold beer or glass of mauby.

• Pineapple Chow - chopped chunks of pineapple, pineapple juice, garlic cloves, and fresh cilantro, tossed in salt, pepper, and lime juice to give them an extra kick.

• Trinidad Doubles - Trinidad Doubles are small sandwiches made of two pieces of soft fried bread with a soft spiced chickpea filling that is often flavoured with garlic, salt, fresh herbs, and turmeric.

To try some delicious Caribbean food right here in the Tri-Cities, make sure to visit Rehanah's Roti & Trinidadian in Port Moody!

Caribbean Days Festival

If you’re a big fan of Caribbean food, or you’ve never tried it before, make sure to visit Town Centre Park this weekend to enjoy authentic Caribbean cuisine and culture!

“Each year, during the last weekend of July, the Trinidad & Tobago Cultural Society of BC presents the Caribbean Days Festival. This event draws a crowd of exuberant fun-lovers for a weekend of parading, dining, socializing (liming) and dancing in the sunshine. This is a weekend of tropical rhythm, cuisine, carnival and culture as only the Caribbean can offer.

Over the years, the Festival has grown into the largest Caribbean event on the local calendar. With tens of thousands of attendees, it is possibly the largest cultural event of its type in BC, period.

The TTCS of BC appreciates your support in its mission to raise awareness of Caribbean culture in BC and benefit the community at large. Please browse our Website for full event location, participation, and media information. See you at the Festival!”

- Description taken from the Caribbean Days Festival website.